Soldiers' Send-Off Brings Out Mixed Emotions

For many of the 150 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers honored at a send-off ceremony Friday, their deployment to Kosovo won't be their first trip overseas.

But that didn't make the emotions at Friday's event at Mitchell Field any different.

The excitement about beginning their journey and the sadness of leaving their families behind were all there for the members of the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and 32nd Military Police Company.

"It’s bittersweet," said Sgt. Arontaye Butler, who is leaving his two kids, girlfriend and parents behind. "I'm kind of anxious to get it started, but at the same time it's hard to say goodbye. Just trying to stay even keel.

"It's more hard for (my family) than it is for me because I've done it a couple times, so I'm kind of used to it," he added. "For them, they’d rather me be home."

Butler, a resident of Milwaukee's north side, is on his third deployment. Many other soldiers also have been sent overseas previously, most to Afghanistan or Iraq.

It is Marc Wildeman's third deployment as well, though all three have come at vastly different points in his life.

His first came as a single man in his 20s. In his next deployment, he was married with two young kids at home. Now, he'll leave his family again with his kids in their teens.

"This one's a little bit different. The kids are older and they can comprehend how this tour’s going to go," he said.

After leaving Milwaukee, the soldiers will go to Indiana for more training. It's expected they will arrive in Kosovo by Thanksgiving.

The Wisconsin troops will function as the brigade headquarters for Multi-National Battle Group East, referred to as Task Force Falcon. They will command foreign military units from several different countries as well as other units from the United States.

Wildeman, from Freedom, WI, said he doesn’t expect the tension level to be nearly as high as Iraq or Afghanistan. It's a traditional peacekeeping effort that has gone on for some 15 years following the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

"In reality, we're supposed to be winding down our mission there, so it should be much more of a relaxed atmosphere," he said.

That fact made things a bit easier for Margaret LeMay, whose sister is heading to Kosovo after previous missions to Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Their first deployment into Afghanistan and (then) Iraq, those are pretty hot zones and you always worry about people going in there. Even though this is a peacekeeping mission, I'm sure there’s unrest in the area, so there's always risk," she said. "It does seem a bit easier going to that region than, say, back to Iraq and Afghanistan."

But while the safety may be better, the soldiers will be gone for nearly a year, and that means missed birthdays, holidays and other events in their families' lives.

"It's definitely a roller coaster of emotions," said Sgt. Sean Murphy of Hartford, who is leaving behind two daughters — a 4-year-old and a 10-month-old.

"The first time, my wife and I were deployed together (to Iraq) but we didn't have any kids ... It's a little bit harder when you have kids."

Friday's ceremony was held at the 128th Air Refueling Wing Aircraft Hanger at Mitchell International Airport.

It included speeches from Gov. Scott Walker, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and high-ranking Wisconsin National Guard officials.

"We know you've got the training, we know you've got the skills, we know you've got the support," Walker said. "We're looking forward to a successful mission and ultimately a great welcome home."